Theatre was a gateway for my career
JOSEPH Kamara is happy about what he does. He cites an example of a project he is part of, the Fair Trade project, which links Ethiopian coffee farmers in Kochore district to coffee importers and processors in Australia.
By Shamilla Kara
JOSEPH Kamara is happy about what he does. He cites an example of a project he is part of, the Fair Trade project, which links Ethiopian coffee farmers in Kochore district to coffee importers and processors in Australia.
“Because Australian coffee importers have been convinced to pay farmers above the market price, many lives in Kochore have changed. The standard of living, especially in nutrition, education and general health has significantly improved,†says the Melbourne-based Ugandan.
Kamara works with World Vision Australia as a programme advisor. His work involves formulating policies on World Vision’s choice of work, where to work and how to engage various stakeholders like governments in Africa and donor countries.
Kamara says if everyone in the world shared their wealth equitably, poverty would be eradicated.
“It is unfortunate that less than 20% of the world’s population controls over 80% of the world’s resources,†he says.
Career background
Kamara started his career with Namirembe Diocese in HIV prevention and AIDS care.
He co-ordinated youth participation through Theatre for Development (TFD), a participatory theatre programme that encourages audiences to take part in performances and address matters relevant to them.
TFD has been used as a tool for education, therapy or as an exploratory tool in development.
Kamara later moved to Straight Talk when it was transitioning from a newspaper pullout to a fully-fledged NGO.
“Unfortunately, my stint at Straight Talk was very short,†Kamara says.
Shortly after, he got employed by World Vision Uganda as a HIV/AIDS counsellor.
After working in various capacities, including being a programme manager for a food aid project for people living with AIDS, Kamara moved to World Vision Mozambique in 2004 as a food aid manager based in Tete province.
Two years later, he relocated to Maputo as the director for humanitarian emergency affairs, an arm of World Vision that deals with emergency response and disaster mitigation.
In 2007, Kamara joined World Vision Australia to work as a country programme coordinator in charge of several countries in Africa.
Working towards becoming what he is now
“When I was working in Mozambique, I realised that I would serve better at the policy formulation level to influence the choice of aid investments in poor communities.
“This became my goal and I worked towards it,†says Kamara, who is spurred by a hatred for injustice and poverty, stemming from his upbringing in the peripheries of Fort Portal.
“I experienced poverty at its core and wanted to help others as much as possible. That is how I developed a clear idea of the profession I wanted to grow into,†he says.
Education background
Kamara has a bachelors degree in development studies from Makerere University and a masters in international development from Deakin University in Melbourne Australia.
But he believes his gateway to the humanitarian and development industry was the diploma in music, dance and drama (MDD) he got at Makerere University prior to enrolling for a degree course.
“While studying MDD, I volunteered to do theatre for development with World Vision in the rural communities of Mukono,†Kamara explains.
How is working and living away from home?
“Working in Australia is exciting, stimulating and challenging. Emphasis is on productivity, authenticity, innovation, and integrity. Just when you think you are a high achiever, the goalposts shift,†Kamara says.
He says this can also be a frustrating and disorienting experience, adding that many scholars have observed that being confident and comfortable with constant change is a valuable characteristic in the 21st Century.
“I miss the community and the connectedness at home,†says Kamara, adding that he often looks forward to visiting Uganda.
skara@newvision.co.ug
www.representingugandaabroad.webs.com
JOSEPH Kamara is happy about what he does. He cites an example of a project he is part of, the Fair Trade project, which links Ethiopian coffee farmers in Kochore district to coffee importers and processors in Australia.
“Because Australian coffee importers have been convinced to pay farmers above the market price, many lives in Kochore have changed. The standard of living, especially in nutrition, education and general health has significantly improved,†says the Melbourne-based Ugandan.
Kamara works with World Vision Australia as a programme advisor. His work involves formulating policies on World Vision’s choice of work, where to work and how to engage various stakeholders like governments in Africa and donor countries.
Kamara says if everyone in the world shared their wealth equitably, poverty would be eradicated.
“It is unfortunate that less than 20% of the world’s population controls over 80% of the world’s resources,†he says.
Career background
Kamara started his career with Namirembe Diocese in HIV prevention and AIDS care.
He co-ordinated youth participation through Theatre for Development (TFD), a participatory theatre programme that encourages audiences to take part in performances and address matters relevant to them.
TFD has been used as a tool for education, therapy or as an exploratory tool in development.
Kamara later moved to Straight Talk when it was transitioning from a newspaper pullout to a fully-fledged NGO.
“Unfortunately, my stint at Straight Talk was very short,†Kamara says.
Shortly after, he got employed by World Vision Uganda as a HIV/AIDS counsellor.
After working in various capacities, including being a programme manager for a food aid project for people living with AIDS, Kamara moved to World Vision Mozambique in 2004 as a food aid manager based in Tete province.
Two years later, he relocated to Maputo as the director for humanitarian emergency affairs, an arm of World Vision that deals with emergency response and disaster mitigation.
In 2007, Kamara joined World Vision Australia to work as a country programme coordinator in charge of several countries in Africa.
Working towards becoming what he is now
“When I was working in Mozambique, I realised that I would serve better at the policy formulation level to influence the choice of aid investments in poor communities.
“This became my goal and I worked towards it,†says Kamara, who is spurred by a hatred for injustice and poverty, stemming from his upbringing in the peripheries of Fort Portal.
“I experienced poverty at its core and wanted to help others as much as possible. That is how I developed a clear idea of the profession I wanted to grow into,†he says.
Education background
Kamara has a bachelors degree in development studies from Makerere University and a masters in international development from Deakin University in Melbourne Australia.
But he believes his gateway to the humanitarian and development industry was the diploma in music, dance and drama (MDD) he got at Makerere University prior to enrolling for a degree course.
“While studying MDD, I volunteered to do theatre for development with World Vision in the rural communities of Mukono,†Kamara explains.
How is working and living away from home?
“Working in Australia is exciting, stimulating and challenging. Emphasis is on productivity, authenticity, innovation, and integrity. Just when you think you are a high achiever, the goalposts shift,†Kamara says.
He says this can also be a frustrating and disorienting experience, adding that many scholars have observed that being confident and comfortable with constant change is a valuable characteristic in the 21st Century.
“I miss the community and the connectedness at home,†says Kamara, adding that he often looks forward to visiting Uganda.
skara@newvision.co.ug
www.representingugandaabroad.webs.com